Intel adds Rohm PMIC to Atom processor support

LONDON – Rohm Co. Ltd. (Kyoto, Japan) has developed a power management IC (PMIC) to support Intel's Atom-based platform, code name Bay Trail. Rohm said its PMIC is designed to enable thin tablet computers and convertible devices.

Dialog Semiconductor plc (Kirchheim-unter-Teck, Germany) made a similar announcement the previous month. Bay Trail is a mobile Atom system chip, suitable for inclusion in mobile phones, due to be announced in 2013 and made using Intel's 22-nm FinFET manufacturing process.

"Our PMIC represents more than just a successful IC design. It represents a strong collaboration with Intel's Mobile and Communications Group that allows Intel to release a cutting-edge tablet SoC platform. Customers will enjoy the benefit of a fully integrated PMIC which delivers improved battery life and higher integration," said Takahisa Yamaha, managing director of Rohm's semiconductor division, in a statement. Yamaha added, "Intel's most advanced process technology delivers the highest performance with the lowest power consumption in the tablet market."

Stephen Smith, director of tablet platform development at Intel, said: "Intel is happy to collaborate with Rohm as one of our ecosystem suppliers to offer a competitive power management solution for the next-generation Intel Atom platform."